U.S. patent application number 10/373823 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-04 for vehicle position communication system, vehicle navigation apparatus and portable communications apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Yamaha Corporation. Invention is credited to Muramatsu, Toshihiko.
Application Number | 20030164778 10/373823 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27678530 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030164778 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muramatsu, Toshihiko |
September 4, 2003 |
Vehicle position communication system, vehicle navigation apparatus
and portable communications apparatus
Abstract
A cellular phone places a call to vehicle navigation apparatus,
performs ID matching, and acquires the information on the position
of the vehicle measured by the vehicle navigation apparatus. The
cellular phone acquires peripheral map data including the position
of the owner of the vehicle and the position of the vehicle where
the vehicle navigation apparatus is mounted from a position
information center and displays the data acquired together with the
data on the positions.
Inventors: |
Muramatsu, Toshihiko;
(Iwata-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Pillsbury Winthrop LLP
Intellectual Property Group
Suite 2800
725 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles
CA
90017-5406
US
|
Assignee: |
Yamaha Corporation
Hamamatsu-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
27678530 |
Appl. No.: |
10/373823 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/988 ;
340/5.74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 21/3688 20130101;
G01C 21/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/988 ;
340/5.74 |
International
Class: |
G08G 001/123 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 27, 2002 |
JP |
P2002-52213 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicle position communication system comprising: a portable
communications apparatus; and a vehicle navigation apparatus
mounted on a vehicle for measuring a position of the vehicle and
displaying the measured position on a display panel, the vehicle
navigation apparatus including, a communications module for
communicating with the portable communications apparatus in
response to a call from the portable communications apparatus, and
a controller for comparing an ID entered on the portable
communications apparatus with a registered ID before start of
communications with the portable communications apparatus to
determine whether transmission of position information is allowed,
and transmitting to the portable communications apparatus the
information on the measured position when it is determined that the
transmission of position information is allowed.
2. The vehicle position communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the portable communications apparatus calls the vehicle
navigation apparatus so as to register an arbitrary ID with the
vehicle navigation apparatus.
3. The vehicle position communication system according to claim 1,
further comprising a position information center storing a map
database and connectable to the portable communications apparatus
and the vehicle navigation apparatus, wherein the position
information center acquires the information on the position of the
vehicle measured by the vehicle navigation apparatus, wherein the
portable communications apparatus includes a positioning unit and
transmits information acquired by the positioning unit to the
position information center, and wherein the position information
center creates peripheral map information including the position of
each of the vehicle navigation apparatus and the portable
communications apparatus with reference to the map database, based
on the information received from the portable communications
apparatus and the information on the vehicle measured by the
vehicle navigation apparatus, and transmits the created peripheral
map information to the portable communications apparatus.
4. The vehicle position communication system according to claim 3,
wherein the portable communications apparatus comprises a GPS as
the positioning unit and transmits measurement data from the GPS to
the position information center, and the position information
center measures the position of the portable communications
apparatus based on the measurement data and transmits the obtained
position information to the portable communications apparatus.
5. A vehicle navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle for
measuring a position of the vehicle and displaying the measured
position on a display panel, the vehicle navigation apparatus
comprising: a communications module for communicating with a
portable communications apparatus in response to a call from the
potable communications apparatus; and a controller for comparing an
ID entered on the portable communications apparatus with a
registered ID before start of communications with the portable
communications apparatus to determine whether transmission of
position information is allowed, and transmitting to the portable
communications apparatus the information on the measured position
when it is determined that the transmission of position information
is allowed.
6. A portable communications apparatus comprising: a display unit
which acquires and displays information on a position of a vehicle
measured by a vehicle navigation apparatus when the vehicle
navigation apparatus mounted on the vehicle is called and it is
determined that the vehicle navigation apparatus can communicate
with the portable communications apparatus based on a result of
comparison of an entered ID with an ID registered with the vehicle
navigation apparatus.
7. The portable communications apparatus according to claim 6,
further comprising a positioning unit and a transmitting unit which
transmits information acquired by the positioning unit to the
position information center, wherein the display unit receives
peripheral map information created in a position information center
based on the information acquired by the positioning unit and the
information on the position of the vehicle measured by the vehicle
navigation apparatus and displays on the display unit the
information received together with the position of the portable
communications apparatus and the position of the vehicle navigation
apparatus.
8. A vehicle position communication system comprising: a portable
communications apparatus which acquires measurement data; and a
vehicle navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle, which measures
and acquires a position of the vehicle as position data; a position
information center connectable to the portable communications
apparatus and the vehicle navigation apparatus, and stores map
database, wherein the position information center receives the
measurement data and the position data of the vehicle, create map
data including the position of the portable communications
apparatus and the vehicle navigation apparatus with reference to
the map database based on the measurement data and the position
data of the vehicle, and transmits the created map data to the
portable communications apparatus.
9. The vehicle position communication system according to claim 8,
wherein the position data acquired by the vehicle navigation
apparatus is transmitted to the position information center through
the portable communications apparatus.
10. The vehicle position communication system according to claim 8,
wherein the portable communications apparatus includes a GPS
module, and the measurement data acquired by the portable
communications apparatus is measured by the GPS module.
11. A portable communications apparatus comprising: an acquiring
unit for acquiring measurement data; a communication module for
transmitting the acquired data to a position information center,
communicating with a vehicle navigation apparatus installed in a
vehicle, and receiving, from the position information center, map
data including a position of the portable communications apparatus
and a position of the vehicle; and a display for displaying the
received map data.
12. The portable communications apparatus according to claim 11,
wherein the communication module receives position data
representing a current position of the vehicle from the vehicle
navigation apparatus and transmits the position data to the
position information center.
13. A position information center comprising: a receiver for
receiving measurement data acquired by a portable communications
apparatus and position data representing position of a vehicle
acquired by a vehicle navigation apparatus installed in the
vehicle; a creating device for creating map data including a
position of the portable communications apparatus and a position of
the vehicle with reference to map database based on the measurement
data and the position data of the vehicle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle position
communication system which notifies the vehicle's owner of the
position of the vehicle, and vehicle navigation apparatus and
portable communications apparatus used for the system.
[0002] In case the vehicle's owner has parked a vehicle in a large
parking lot of for example a theme park, it sometimes happens that
he/she has forgotten the parking position of the vehicle on his/her
way back to the vehicle. In case the vehicle has been stolen, it is
almost impossible to detect a place where the vehicle is gone.
[0003] In the related art, a service has been put to use which
monitors information from a sensor attached inside a vehicle at the
center facility and transmits the information on the position of
the vehicle or information concerning theft of the vehicle to the
cellular phone of the vehicle's owner. The owner who receives this
service can display the current position of the vehicle on the
display panel of his/her cellular phone.
[0004] However, in a related art vehicle position communication
system, it is necessary to mount specific apparatus including a GPS
unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle position
communication system which is capable of displaying the information
on the position of a vehicle on portable communications apparatus
without adding new apparatus, by taking advantage of vehicle
navigation apparatus mounted on the vehicle.
[0006] In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is
characterized by having the following arrangement.
[0007] (1) A vehicle position communication system comprising:
[0008] a portable communications apparatus; and
[0009] a vehicle navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle for
measuring a position of the vehicle and displaying the measured
position on a display panel, the vehicle navigation apparatus
including,
[0010] a communications module for communicating with the portable
communications apparatus in response to a call from the portable
communications apparatus, and
[0011] a controller for comparing an ID entered on the portable
communications apparatus with a registered ID before start of
communications with the portable communications apparatus to
determine whether transmission of position information is allowed,
and transmitting to the portable communications apparatus the
information on the measured position when it is determined that the
transmission of position information is allowed.
[0012] (2) The vehicle position communication system according
to
[0013] (1), wherein the portable communications apparatus calls the
vehicle navigation apparatus so as to register an arbitrary ID with
the vehicle navigation apparatus.
[0014] (3) The vehicle position communication system according to
(1), further comprising a position information center storing a map
database and connectable to the portable communications apparatus
and the vehicle navigation apparatus,
[0015] wherein the position information center acquires the
information on the position of the vehicle measured by the vehicle
navigation apparatus,
[0016] wherein the portable communications apparatus includes a
positioning unit and transmits information acquired by the
positioning unit to the position information center, and
[0017] wherein the position information center creates peripheral
map information including the position of each of the vehicle
navigation apparatus and the portable communications apparatus with
reference to the map database, based on the information received
from the portable communications apparatus and the information on
the vehicle measured by the vehicle navigation apparatus, and
transmits the created peripheral map information to the portable
communications apparatus.
[0018] (4) The vehicle position communication system according to
(3), wherein
[0019] the portable communications apparatus comprises a GPS as the
positioning unit and transmits measurement data from the GPS to the
position information center, and
[0020] the position information center measures the position of the
portable communications apparatus based on the measurement data and
transmits the obtained position information to the portable
communications apparatus.
[0021] (5) A vehicle navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle for
measuring a position of the vehicle and displaying the measured
position on a display panel, the vehicle navigation apparatus
comprising:
[0022] a communications module for communicating with a portable
communications apparatus in response to a call from the potable
communications apparatus; and
[0023] a controller for comparing an ID entered on the portable
communications apparatus with a registered ID before start of
communications with the portable communications apparatus to
determine whether transmission of position information is allowed,
and transmitting to the portable communications apparatus the
information on the measured position when it is determined that the
transmission of position information is allowed.
[0024] (6) A portable communications apparatus comprising:
[0025] a display unit which acquires and displays information on a
position of a vehicle measured by a vehicle navigation apparatus
when the vehicle navigation apparatus mounted on the vehicle is
called and it is determined that the vehicle navigation apparatus
can communicate with the portable communications apparatus based on
a result of comparison of an entered ID with an ID registered with
the vehicle navigation apparatus.
[0026] (7) The portable communications apparatus according to (6)
further comprising a positioning unit and a transmitting unit which
transmits information acquired by the positioning unit to the
position information center,
[0027] wherein the display unit receives peripheral map information
created in a position information center based on the information
acquired by the positioning unit and the information on the
position of the vehicle measured by the vehicle navigation
apparatus and displays on the display unit the information received
together with the position of the portable communications apparatus
and the position of the vehicle navigation apparatus.
[0028] (8) A vehicle position communication system comprising:
[0029] a portable communications apparatus which acquires
measurement data; and
[0030] a vehicle navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle, which
measures and acquires a position of the vehicle as position
data;
[0031] a position information center connectable to the portable
communications apparatus and the vehicle navigation apparatus, and
stores map database,
[0032] wherein the position information center receives the
measurement data and the position data of the vehicle, create map
data including the position of the portable communications
apparatus and the vehicle navigation apparatus with reference to
the map database based on the measurement data and the position
data of the vehicle, and transmits the created map data to the
portable communications apparatus.
[0033] (9) The vehicle position communication system according to
(8), wherein the position data acquired by the vehicle navigation
apparatus is transmitted to the position information center through
the portable communications apparatus.
[0034] (10) The vehicle position communication system according to
(8), wherein the portable communications apparatus includes a GPS
module, and the measurement data acquired by the portable
communications apparatus is measured by the GPS module.
[0035] (11) A portable communications apparatus comprising:
[0036] an acquiring unit for acquiring measurement data;
[0037] a communication module for transmitting the acquired data to
a position information center, communicating with a vehicle
navigation apparatus installed in a vehicle, and receiving, from
the position information center, map data including a position of
the portable communications apparatus and a position of the
vehicle; and
[0038] a display for displaying the received map data.
[0039] (12) The portable communications apparatus according to
(11),
[0040] wherein the communication module receives position data
representing a current position of the vehicle from the vehicle
navigation apparatus and transmits the position data to the
position information center.
[0041] (13) A position information center comprising:
[0042] a receiver for receiving measurement data acquired by a
portable communications apparatus and position data representing
position of a vehicle acquired by a vehicle navigation apparatus
installed in the vehicle;
[0043] a creating device for creating map data including a position
of the portable communications apparatus and a position of the
vehicle with reference to map database based on the measurement
data and the position data of the vehicle.
[0044] The present disclosure relates to the subject matter
contained in Japanese patent application No. 2002-052213 (filed on
Feb. 27, 2002), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference
in their entireties.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG. 1 is a general block diagram of a vehicle position
communication system according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0046] FIG. 2 is a general block diagram of vehicle navigation
apparatus;
[0047] FIG. 3 is a general block diagram of a cellular phone;
[0048] FIG. 4 shows an example of the cellular phone;
[0049] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the sequence of initial
setting of ID;
[0050] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the sequence of displaying the
position of the owner of the vehicle and the position of the
vehicle together with a peripheral map;
[0051] FIG. 7 shows the display sequence on the cellular phone;
[0052] FIG. 8 shows the arrow icon data stored in the RAM 25 of the
cellular phone;
[0053] FIG. 9 shows the vehicle icon data stored in the RAM 25 of
the cellular phone;
[0054] FIG. 10 shows the method for displaying the arrow icon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0055] A vehicle position communication system according to an
embodiment of the invention includes vehicle navigation apparatus,
a cellular phone as an example of portable communications apparatus
connectable to the vehicle navigation apparatus via a telephone
line, and a position information center connectable to the cellular
phone and the vehicle navigation apparatus via a telephone line.
FIG. 1 is a general block diagram of a vehicle position
communication system of the invention. A cellular phone 1, vehicle
navigation apparatus 2, and a position information center 5 are
mutually connectable via a line control station 3. A numeral 4
denotes the Internet. The position information center 5 includes a
map database 5a which stores plenty of map data representing maps
for each region and is described later.
[0056] The vehicle navigation apparatus 2 incorporates a GPS
(Global Positioning System) module. The vehicle navigation
apparatus 2, mounted on a vehicle, measures the position of the
vehicle and displays its position together with a peripheral map on
the display panel. The vehicle navigation apparatus 2 further
includes a communications module for communicating with the
cellular phone 1 in response to a call from the cellular phone
1.
[0057] The cellular phone 1 incorporates a GPS like the vehicle
navigation apparatus incorporating the GPS, and has a feature for
measuring its position by way of the D-GPS (differential GPS
positioning system). As a fixed station of the D-GPS, a position
information center 5 is used. That is, the cellular phone itself
does not perform positioning based on the measurement data from the
GPS but transmits the measurement data to the position information
center 5, which performs high-accuracy positioning calculation
operation and transmits the result to the cellular phone 1. By
doing so, the positioning calculation operation on the cellular
phone 1 is made unnecessary thus reducing the load on the
calculation operation section as well as enhancing the positioning
accuracy and positioning time. In order for the D-GPS service to be
available, the position information center 5 as a fixed station
must be within several tens of kilometers from the cellular phone
1. Recently, single-handed positioning provides a sufficient
accuracy so that the D-GPS is no longer a prerequisite. This
provides an advantage that a cellular phone does not have to
transmit GPS measurement data to the position information center
5.
[0058] The position information center 5 determines the current
position of each of the cellular phone 1 and the vehicle navigation
apparatus 2 by connecting to the cellular phone 1 and the vehicle
navigation apparatus 2.
[0059] The cellular phone 1, vehicle navigation apparatus 2 and
position information center 5 will be described with reference to
FIGS. 2 through 4.
[0060] FIG. 2 is a general block diagram of the vehicle navigation
apparatus 2.
[0061] The vehicle navigation apparatus 2 includes a cellular phone
communications module 10 and a vehicle navigation apparatus main
unit 11. The vehicle navigation apparatus main unit 11 includes a
GPS and an electronic compass module. The vehicle navigation
apparatus main unit generates the data on the current position
(latitude and longitude data) of the vehicle and displays the data
obtained together with the peripheral map data on an LCD panel (not
shown). The cellular phone communications module 10 communicates
with the cellular phone 1 in response to a call from the cellular
phone 1. The cellular phone communications module 10 is used to
transmit the current position of the vehicle measured by the
vehicle navigation apparatus main unit 11 to the cellular
phone.
[0062] The cellular phone communications module 10 and the vehicle
navigation apparatus main unit 11 are controlled by a controller
12. The control program for control is stored in a ROM 13. A RAM 14
stores, as shown in the figure, five types of data, that is, "ID"
(Area M1), "telephone number of the vehicle navigation apparatus"
(Area M2), "latitude of the vehicle" (Area M3), "longitude of the
vehicle" (Area M4) and "azimuth angle of the vehicle" (Area
M5).
[0063] The ID is compared with the ID entered on the cellular phone
1 before starting communications with the cellular phone 1. In the
shown example, a number 4806 is registered as an ID. When the
number 4806 is entered on the cellular phone before communications
with the cellular phone 1, an ID match occurs and it is determined
that the current position of the vehicle can be transmitted to the
cellular phone 1. The "telephone number of the vehicle navigation
apparatus" is a telephone number used for a call from the cellular
phone 1. The "latitude of the vehicle" and the "longitude of the
vehicle" are current position of the vehicle measured by the
vehicle navigation apparatus main unit 11. The "azimuth angle of
the vehicle" is the azimuth angle of the vehicle measured by an
electronic compass. The azimuth angle of the vehicle is an angle
showing the azimuth of the vehicle relative to the north cardinal
point.
[0064] FIG. 3 is a general block diagram of a cellular phone 1.
[0065] The cellular phone 1 includes a cellular phone functional
block 20, a GPS module 21, and an electronic compass module 22. The
cellular phone functional block 20 includes a communications module
20a for communicating with the vehicle navigation apparatus 2 by
calling the vehicle navigation apparatus 2, a keyboard 20b, and an
LCD display panel 20c. The GPS module 21 acquires measurement data
from the GPS. The electronic compass module 22 obtains the azimuth
angle of the owner of the-vehicle.
[0066] A ROM 24 is connected to a controller 23 which controls the
cellular phone functional block 20, GPS module 21 and electronic
compass module 22. In the ROM 24, a control program, the vehicle
owner icon data showing the position of the owner of the vehicle,
vehicle icon data showing the angle of the orientation of the
vehicle, and arrow icon data showing the travel direction are
stored. The RAM 25 stores the "types of icons" (Area M6), "cellular
phone number" (Area M7) and "vehicle navigation apparatus telephone
number" (Area M8) to be displayed in the position of the owner of
the vehicle, "latitude of the owner of the vehicle" and "longitude
of the owner of the vehicle" (Area M9) representing the latitude
and longitude of the owner of the vehicle measured, "azimuth angle
of the owner of the vehicle" (Area M10) representing the azimuth
angle of the owner of the vehicle measured, "vehicle icon" (Area
M11) and "ID" (Area M12) representing the position of the vehicle,
"latitude of the vehicle" and "longitude of the vehicle" (Area M13)
representing the latitude and longitude of the vehicle measured,
"azimuth angle of the vehicle" (Area M14) representing the azimuth
angle of the vehicle, and "peripheral map data" (Area M15). Of the
data, the vehicle owner icon and the vehicle icon are pre-selected
from the shape data (not shown) in the ROM 24, that is, selected
from among several shapes. The "azimuth angle of the owner of the
vehicle" (Area M10) is used to select arrow icon data. The "azimuth
angle of the vehicle" (Area M14) is used to select vehicle icon
data.
[0067] The current position data concerning "latitude of the owner
of the vehicle" and "longitude of the owner of the vehicle" is
obtained by transmitting the GPS measurement data to the position
information center 5 and receiving the result of accurate
positioning calculation operation performed by the position
information center 5. The data concerning "latitude of the
vehicle," "longitude of the vehicle" and "azimuth angle of the
vehicle" is transmitted from the vehicle navigation apparatus 2.
The "peripheral map data" is transmitted from the position
information center 5.
[0068] In this configuration, the owner of the cellular phone 1
calls the vehicle navigation apparatus 2, and inputs the initial ID
value by the keyboard to register the cellular phone 1 with Area M1
of the RAM 14 of the vehicle navigation apparatus.
[0069] Next, when the owner of the cellular phone 1 seeks to
display his/her position and the position of his/her vehicle on the
LCD display panel of the cellular phone, the owner calls the
vehicle navigation apparatus. When the vehicle navigation apparatus
is called, the owner enters an ID on the cellular phone 1. When the
entered ID matches the ID stored in Area M1 of the vehicle
navigation apparatus, the vehicle navigation apparatus 2 transmits
the data on the current position and the azimuth angle of the
vehicle. The cellular phone automatically switches the destination
to the position information center 5 and transmits the measurement
data (data for positioning calculation operation) measured by a
built-in GPS to the position information center 5 through the
communication module for accurate positioning of the owner of the
vehicle. At the same time, the cellular phone 1 transmits the data
on the current position of the vehicle to the position information
center 5 through the communication module. The position information
center 5, receiving the data, measures the accurate position of the
cellular phone based on the GPS measurement data transmitted from
the cellular phone 1, creates peripheral map data including the
resulting latitude/longitude data and data on the current position
of the owner of the vehicle transmitted based on such data
referring to a map database 5a, and transmits the peripheral map
data to the cellular phone 1. The cellular phone 1 overlays the
arrow icon data selected based on the azimuth angle of the owner of
the vehicle in Area M10, vehicle icon data selected based on the
azimuth angle of the vehicle in Area M14 and the pre-selected
vehicle owner icon data on the peripheral map data transmitted from
the position information center 5, and displays the resulting image
on the LCD display panel 20c.
[0070] Thus, the image is displayed on the LCD display panel 20c of
the cellular phone 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4,
an icon P is an icon of the owner of the vehicle having the
cellular phone and indicates the position of the owner of the
vehicle. An icon Q is a vehicle icon indicating the vehicle and
selected based on the azimuth angle of the vehicle in Area M14. The
vehicle icon indicates the azimuth of the vehicle. A map including
the position of the icon P and the icon Q is displayed as the
background. An arrow overlaid on the icon P corresponds to arrow
icon data selected based on the azimuth angle of the owner of the
vehicle in Area M10. The direction of the arrow corresponds to the
direction in which the cellular phone is oriented, or travel
direction of the owner of the vehicle.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 4, by using the vehicle navigation
apparatus 2 mounted on the vehicle, it is possible to display a map
including the position of the owner of the vehicle and the parking
position of the vehicle on the cellular phone 1 of the owner of the
vehicle as well as display the position of the vehicle and the
position of the owner of the vehicle at the same time. The position
information center 5 determines the scale so that the icon P and
icon Q will appear at the same time on the LCD display panel 20c of
the cellular phone 1 before creating the map data. By doing so, the
workload of scrolling through the LCD panel of the cellular phone 1
is eliminated and arrangement otherwise necessary is not
required.
[0072] Then, the operation of the entire vehicle position
communication system will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and
the subsequent drawings.
[0073] FIG. 5 shows the operation of initial setting of ID on the
cellular phone 1.
[0074] First, the owner of the vehicle places a call to the vehicle
navigation apparatus 2 by using the cellular phone 1 (ST1). The
telephone number of the vehicle navigation apparatus is registered
with Area M8 of the RAM 25 on the cellular phone 1. When the call
is established, the owner of the vehicle enters an initial ID value
and places the cellular phone in the original ID registration mode
(ST2). FIG. 7 shows this sequence. On the cellular phone 1, when
the vehicle position information system is activated, the screen in
FIG. 7A, then the screen in FIG. 7B appear. When the owner of the
vehicle selects "Register ID & telephone number" Screen A in
FIG. 7C appears. In Screen A, the owner of the vehicle enters the
initial ID value as well as the telephone number of the local
station cellular phone number (his/her own cellular phone number)
in step ST3. The entered ID is stored into M12. The cellular phone
number is pre-stored into M7. The telephone number of the vehicle
navigation apparatus entered in Screen A of FIG. 7C is stored into
M8.
[0075] The initial ID value typed in step ST3 is transferred to the
vehicle navigation apparatus 2 in step ST4. The vehicle navigation
apparatus 2 registers the initial ID value thus transmitted with M1
of the RAM 14 (ST5).
[0076] After registration, the initial ID value may be changed to
an arbitrary value. In this case, the owner of the vehicle enters
the currently registered ID, then a new ID. When the first ID is
identical to the registered ID, the first ID is replaced with the
second ID. By doing so, change of ID is possible only by a person
who knows the ID, that is, the owner of the cellular phone. This
prevents ID change via fraud.
[0077] Preferably, in the sequence of FIG. 5, verification of the
owner of the cellular phone by any means is a prerequisite for
registration of an initial ID value from the viewpoint of
security.
[0078] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the sequence of displaying the
position of the owner of the vehicle and the position of the
vehicle together with a peripheral map on the LCD display panel of
the cellular phone 1.
[0079] In steps ST10 through ST14, the position of the vehicle is
measured (positioning and measurement of azimuth angle). In steps
ST15 through ST19, the position of the owner of the vehicle is
measured (positioning and measurement of azimuth angle). In steps
ST20 through ST23, the icons are determined and the position of the
owner of the vehicle and position of the vehicle are displayed
together with a peripheral map on the LCD panel 20c of the cellular
phone.
[0080] First, the owner of the vehicle places a call to the vehicle
navigation apparatus 2 by using the cellular phone 1 (ST10) When
the vehicle navigation apparatus 2 is called, the owner of the
vehicle enters an ID (4806 in this example) from a keyboard 20b.
The display screen on the cellular phone is switched from the
screen in FIG. 7A to the screen in FIG. 7B. When the owner selects
"Connect to vehicle position information system", Screen B of FIG.
7D appears on the display screen and the owner enters an ID. The
vehicle navigation apparatus 2 compares the ID transmitted from the
cellular phone 1 with the ID stored in M1, and when a match occurs,
the vehicle navigation apparatus 2 determines that communications
is allowed between the vehicle navigation apparatus 2 and the
currently connected cellular phone 1. In step ST12, the vehicle
navigation apparatus 2 measures the position of the vehicle based
on the GPS measurement data and uses an electronic compass to
measure the azimuth angle. The data is stored into the areas M3
through M5 in the RAM 14 (ST13). Then the vehicle navigation
apparatus 2 transmits the data on the current position of the
vehicle (latitude and longitude) and the azimuth angle of the
vehicle to the cellular phone 1 via the cellular phone
communications module 10.
[0081] The owner of the cellular phone orients his/her cellular
phone 1 in the travel direction (ST15). In this practice, an
electronic compass module 22 measures the azimuth angle data of the
owner of the vehicle. Next, the destination of the cellular phone 1
is automatically switched from the vehicle navigation apparatus 2
to the position information center 5. The cellular phone 1
transmits GPS measurement data to the position information center 5
to make a positioning request (ST16). At the same time, the
cellular phone 1 transmits the data on the current position of the
vehicle (latitude and longitude) to the position information center
5. The position information center 5, receiving a positioning
request, performs positioning calculation operation based on the
GPS measurement data. The position information center 5 also
generates map data to be transmitted to the cellular phone 1 based
on the data on the current position of the cellular phone (owner of
the vehicle) obtained and the data on the current position of the
vehicle transmitted (ST17). The map data which includes both the
data on the latitude and longitude of the cellular phone 1 and the
data on the latitude and longitude of the vehicle are created
referring to the map database 5a.
[0082] The cellular phone 1 downloads the peripheral map data thus
created and the data on the current position of the owner of the
vehicle from the position information center 5 (ST18). The
respective pieces of data are stored into M9 and M15 of the RAM 25
of the cellular phone (ST19). The data on the current position of
the vehicle in M13 and the data on the azimuth angle of the vehicle
are acquired from the vehicle navigation apparatus 2 in step ST14.
The azimuth angle of the owner of the vehicle in M10 is the data
measured by the built-in electronic compass module 22.
[0083] Next, data on the azimuth angle of the owner of the vehicle
in M10 and data on the azimuth angle of the vehicle in M14 are read
(ST20). First, the arrow icon data corresponding to the azimuth
angle of the owner of the vehicle is read from the ROM 24 (ST21).
Next, the vehicle icon data corresponding to the azimuth angle of
the vehicle is read from the ROM 24 (ST22). FIG. 8 shows the
correspondence between the azimuth angle of the owner of the
vehicle and the arrow icon data. FIG. 9 shows the correspondence
between the azimuth angle of the vehicle and the rotation angle of
the vehicle icon data. The arrow icon selected from FIG. 8 is
displayed on a map in combination with the icon P indicating the
position of the owner of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 10. In FIG.
10, P' is the arrow icon. Display of the icon P and the icon P' is
given north-up (the north is in upward direction). The travel
direction may be displayed in upward direction instead of the
north-up representation. The vehicle icon selected from FIG. 9 is
displayed on the map.
[0084] While the vehicle navigation apparatus 2 transmits the data
on the current position of the vehicle and the azimuth angle data
to the cellular phone 1 in step ST14 in FIG. 6, this processing may
be omitted and connection to the cellular phone may be released
when the vehicle navigation apparatus 2 is activated and connection
to the position information center 5 may be established to transmit
the data to the position information center 5 in the preceding step
ST12. In this case, it is not necessary to transmit the data to the
position information center 5 in step ST16. Note that it is
necessary to transmit the data together with the peripheral map
data from the position information center 5 to the cellular phone 1
in step ST18.
[0085] The portable communications apparatus of the invention is
not be limited to a cellular phone but may be a portable terminal
having the communications feature such as a PDA.
[0086] According to the invention, even in case the owner of a
vehicle has parked a vehicle in a large parking lot of for example
a theme park, he/she can display the parking position and his/her
position on portable communications apparatus away from the
vehicle. Even in case the owner of the vehicle has forgotten the
parking position of the his/her vehicle, he/she can readily check
the parking position and his/her position.
[0087] In case the vehicle should be stolen, the owner of the
vehicle can find the current position of his/her vehicle on
portable communications apparatus at hand. The portable
communications apparatus requires ID matching as a condition for
displaying the position of the vehicle, thus preventing illegal use
by an unauthorized person.
[0088] The portable communications apparatus can receive peripheral
map and store the map in memory. This is convenient because the
peripheral map is available at any time.
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